Alexander macomb chance and james frederick chance



(NoMode'l.)

A. M. 8f, J. F. CHANCE.

APPARATUS FUR OBTAINING SULPHURETED HYDROGENFROM ALKALI.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ALEXANDER MAOOMB CHANCE AND JAMES FREDERICK CHANCE, OF OLD- BURY, COUNTY OF /VOROESTER, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING SULPHURETED HYDROGEN FROM ALKALI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,248, dated May 14, 1889.

Application filed December 14, 1888. Serial No. 293,585. (No model.) Patented in England June 16, 1887, No. 8,666 in France September 6, 1887,1To. 185,677, and in Belgium September 7,1887,No. 78,799.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ALEXANDER MAcoMB CHANCE and JAMES FREDERICK CHANCE, of Oldbury, in the county of Worcester, England, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for use in Obtaining Sulphureted l-Iydrogen from Alkali Vaste, (for which apparatus patents have been obtained in Great Britain, No. 8,666, dated June 16, 1887; in France, No. 185,677, dated September G, 1887, and in Belgium, No. 78,799, dated September 7, 1887 5) and we do hereby decla-re the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The apparatus is designed for use in the process for obtaining sulphureted hydrogen from alkali waste for which we have applllied for Letters Patent simultaneously with t is.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation, part being in section; and Fig. 2, a plan of apparatus under our invention.

a represents seven tall cylindrical vessels, such as we prefer to use, and are marked 1 to 7.

b represents false bottoms perforated with small holes.

c represents man-holes and lids for allowing access to the interior of the vessels.

d represents taps or valves above, and e represents taps or valves below, the perforated bottonis b for the purpose of running o the contents of the vessels o, the taps or valves e being being used only when it is necessary to empty the space below the perforated bottoms.

f represents carbonic-acid-gas-supply main.

g represents descending pipes leading from the supply-main f to the vessels o beneath the perforated bottoms l), the pipes g being fitted at the bends with pieces g', having covers, or with hooded bends, to allow of the use of rods to clear away any stoppage in the said pipes g. These rods may be, and preferably are, -iitted -to work through stuffing-boxes.

h represents thc connecting-main.

1l represents the return-main.

j represents pipes leading from the connecting and return mains h and t' to the descending pipes g.

la represents pipes leading from the tops of the vessels d to the said connecting and return mains.

Z represents taps or valves on branch pipes from the gas-supply main f for opening and closing communication between the said main f and the descending pipes g.

m and n represent taps or valves in the pipes 7c between the vessels a and the connecting-main 7L and between the connectingmain h and the return-main t', respectively.

o and p represent taps or valves on the pipes j between the descending pipes g and the connecting-main h and between the connecting-main h and the return-main t', respectively.

q and r represent taps or valves between the pipes j and 7.l in the mains h and i, respectively.

s represents the exit-main, connected to the tops of the vessels ot through pipes marked t.

u represents-taps or valves on the pipes t for opening and closing communication be- `tween the exit-main and the vessels c. r

e represents a tap or valve for opening and closing communication between the exit- Inain s and the gas holder or store for sulphureted hydrogen, or place where the same is to be used.

w represents a tap or valve between .the exit-main s and the atmosphere. By another arrangement the exit-main s :may be closed at one end and be at the other end divided into two branches-one leading to the at- Inosphere and the other to the gas-holder or place where the sulphnreted hydrogen is to be stored or usedweach branch being furnished with a tap or valve. The taps a, o, and w should always be either fully opened or fully closed, since if only partly opened they are liable to become Worn by the action or friction of the gases. le do not,

therefore, use these taps to govern the flow of gases; but we put for this purpose one or more taps, which we will call check-taps,

and which are not shown in the appended drawings, on the main s'. Although these check-taps become worn, the other taps will always close tightly and prevent leakage.

w represents a conduit for the mixture ot' alkali waste and water.

y represents pipes connecting the conduit with the tops of the vessels a.

.2' represents taps or valves on the pipes y.

In place of the false bottoms h distributii'igroses or other arrangements may be employed.

In treating alkali waste under our invention in the apparatus herein described the number of vessels used for one cycle of operations will depend in a great measure on their size and construction and on the power of the pump, aspirator, or other agent by which the gases are to be forced. or drawn through the series ot` vessels; but it will not be convenient to employ fewer than three vessels for one cycle of operations, as we require a lastvessel froin which the first gases are delivered into the atmosphere, an intermediate vessel from which the strong gases are taken tor storage or use, and a first vessel the contents of which shall during the time that the two kinds of gases are passing away have become completely carbonated.

In. describing, as follows, our method of procedure we assume the employment of tive vessels in one cycle of operations. These vessels-say Nos. l to 5, as on the appended drawingsare filled to the required heightsay about two-thirds tulle-with the mixture of alkali waste 'and water through the conduit a", pipes y, and taps .2'. Communication is then shut ott between the vessels a and the conduit a", and the tap Zbetween the gasmain f and the descending pipe g, leading to the iirst vesselin this case No. l-is opened, so as to allow the gases to enter the said vessel. Such taps `in, q, and o are opened as will allow the gases passing oft from the first vessel to iow by the pipes 7a, main 7L, and pipes j and g to the second vessel of the series,and

so on to the last vessel-in this case No. 5.

From this last vessel the gases pass by a pipe,

t and tap u to the exit-main s, and from the exit-main s by the tap w to the atmosphere. After a time it is found that gases may be obtained from one of the vessels-probably in this case No. S-containing sul'iicient sulphureted hydrogen to render them ci use. The tap m, therefore, between the third and fourth vessels and the tap a between the iifth vessel and the exit-main and the tap w in the exit-main are closed, while the tap u on the pipe t, leading from the third vessel to the exit-main, and the tap 'r on that end or branch of the exit-main which leads to the gas-holder or place where the sulphureted hydrogen is to be used are opened. ,YVhile the strong gas is passing away through the tap 'n to be utilized, other empty vessels oi the series-in this case say Nos. U and 'Ff-mare filled with a 'mixture of alkali waste and water. lVhen the gas issuing past the tap i: becomes too dilute for use, the said tap fr and the tap 'a between the third vessel and the exit-main are closed, and the tapl between the first vessel of the series and the gas-main f and the tap obetween the second and third vessels are also closed. The tap t between the gas-main f and the third vessel, and also the several taps m q 0, governing communication between the third and remaining vessels, are opened. The tap a between the last vessel-in this case new ilo. 7--and the exit main and tap w in the exit-main are also opened. The contents of vessels Nos. l and 2, which should now have been completely carbonated, are blown er drawn out through the taps d. It it is 'found that the contents ot only one ot these vessels have been completely carbonated, only that one ot them is emptied, the other being connected to the gas-main, so as to become the i'irst of the series, instead el the third vessel being so connected, as above set forth. lf it is desired that avcssel or vessels in the direct order of the series should be omitted-say No. 3 in the series 2, 3, et, 5, (l, T-the tap 0 between the second and third vessels and the tap m between the third and fourth vessels are closed and the taps q between vessels Nos. 2 and -i opened. Then the series is so used that gases have to travel from one vessel to another in the opposite direction to the series that is to say, from a vessel later to a vessel earlier in the series-such taps m n Ar p o are opened as will allow the gases to ilow from such later vessel through the return-maint to the descending pipe g, leading into the earlier vessel..

It will be obvious that by the proper opening and closing oi' taps or valves any number ot vessels may be used in series, and that any of the said. vessels may be made in turn the iirst, intermediate, or last of the series, and that any vessel or vessels may be passed over. It will .further be obvious that the vessels may be worked as two series.

"We claim l. Apparatus for obtaining sulphuretcd hydrogen separated from a large portion of other gases, such apparatus consisting ot a number of vessels for containing the alkali waste and water, a supply-main t'or the carbonic acid, a connecting-main for establishing connection between the vessels, inletpipes l'or con vcyin g the carbonie acid into the bot-tom of said vessels, two branches foreach of said inlet-pipes, one putting the inlet-pipe in communication with the supply-main and the other in communication with the connectingunain, and both provided. with taps or valves, a di scharge-niain for the products of decomposition, provided with two outlets and taps, whereby the gases may be discharged from either outlet, and pipes connecting the upper part of each vessel with the connecting-main and the discharge-main and pro- IOO IIO

vided with taps or valves intermediate the said vessel and each of the said mains, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a number of vessels, a supply-main, a connecting-main, a return main, and a discharge-main provided with branch pipes and taps or valves as follows, whereby said vessels can be connected in series in any order-that is to say, inlet pipes or branches for putting each vessel in communication With any one of the rst three of said mains-so that any vessel may be supplied from the supply-main, from the connecting-main, or from the return-main, and out.- let pipes or branches for putting each vessel in communication with any one of the last three of said mains-namely, the connectingmain, the return main, or the dischargemain-so that any vessel may discharge into any one of them, substantially as described.

3. Apparatus composed of a number of upright vessels, a main with a branch to each vessel for supplying liquid to the same, a gasinlet pipe communicating with the lower part of each vesse1,a draw-oit tap or taps at the bottom of each vessel, a supply-main, a connecting-main, a return-main, branches and taps for'putting the said gas-inlet pipes in communication with any one of the three last-mentioned mains, a discharge-main provided with two outlets and taps therefor, and branch pipes and taps for putting the upper part of each vessel in communication with said connecting-main, with said return-main, or with said discharge main, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we, the said ALEXAN- DER MAcoMB CHANCE and JAMES FREDERICK CHANCE, have hereunto set our hands.

ALEXANDER MACOMB CHANCE. JAMES FREDERICK CHANCE. Witnesses:

J. R. HOLLIDAY, W. H. HARRIS. 

